“Surf into the World”, the COSMOTE programme for schools located in
remote regions of Greece, travelled to two more islands, Karpathos and
Kasos. Seven schools and around 350 pupils obtained free access to the
Internet, thereby raising the number of pupils who have entered the
“digital era” through the programme to 2,000.
Specifically,
technical equipment was offered to the villages of Arkassa, Mesochori,
Olympos, Aperi, and Diafani in Karpathos. The presentation of the
programme “Surf into the World” was made in cooperation with the
municipality of Karpathos, as well as the local community of the village
of Olympos, at a special event that was attended by local authorities,
teachers and pupils. The event was addressed through Skype also by the
Governor of the South Aegean Region Mr G. Machairidis, thanks to the
technical equipment that was provided by the company, as well as by the
regional Director for Education of the Ministry of Education Mr N.
Raptis. An especially warm atmosphere was created as the pupils of the
Elementary School of Olympos-Diafi and the children of the Cultural
Association of Olympos welcomed the programme with traditional Greek
songs (“madinades”) and music.
In the framework of its wider
effort to cover real needs across Greece, the company also supported the
reconstruction of the septic operating room and the two treatment wards
of the Health Centre of Karpathos, while it also financed the
construction of the Basketball and Volleyball court at the local
community of Aperi. The programme was further introduced in Kasos, and
specifically at the Elementary and the Junior High School of the
Municipality of Kasos. Next strops for a second time will be the islands
of Lesvos and Crete, and towards the end of the year, Naxos and
Evrytania.
About the programme “Surf into the World”
the programme “Surf into the World”, which forms part of COSMOTE
Corporate Responsibility actions, the company installs technical
infrastructure (monitor, CPU, Wi-Fi router, multifunctional device,
& web camera) at schools, offering pupils and teachers free wireless
access to the Internet at high speeds. At the same time, the company is
upgrading its network in the respective areas, bringing multiple
benefits not only to the pupils and teachers but also indirectly to the
locals. The programme was initiated in November 2010 when it was first
implemented on the island of Lesvos. Having passed in the meantime
through the islands of Limnos, Ikaria, Samos, Fournoi, Anafi, Kythnos,
Kimolos, Donousa, Schoinousa, Irakleia, Sikinos, Folegandros, Tzia, and
Crete it has installed wireless internet at more than 25 schools. The
programme’s goal is to reach every far-flung region of Greece.